Apparatus for the manufacture of hollow bodies



A. PORTEVIN June 24, 1930.

APARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 0F HOLLOW BODIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7,

June 24, 1930. A A'. PQRTEVIN 1,767,394

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW BODIES Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED vSTATES PATENT ori-ICE ALBERT roR'rnvIN, or PARIS, ramen, AssIGNoR' 'ro SOCIT DExPANsIoN 'raca- NIQUE, or rAR1s,\rRANcE, A COMPANY or FRANCE AFPARATUS FOB T HE MANUFACTUR l' HOLLOWv BODIES Application led November 7, .1927, Serial No. 231,729, and in France November 10, 1926.

A process for the manufacture of tubular bodies made from molten metal or other freely falls from the ladle into the projection lip or spout arranged in the mould.

The present invention has mainly for ob.- ject an apparatus for the manufacture of steel pipes utilizing this process; the said invention particularly consists in replacing the single projection lip or spout producin a single jet of molten metal by a series o jets, the number of which is variable, and which constitute a real projection sheet.

The invention includes all the forms of construction of this device and particularly those which consist:

(a) In replacing the single projection lip or spout by a refractory deiector provided with several channels forside projection, substantially devised, as to their shape, in a similar manner to the vanes of a reaction turbine.

(b) In constructing this refractory deflector in which a way that itis entirely integral with the fixed hollow axis wherein enters the freely falling molten metal.

(c) Or again, in constructing a refractory deflector of this type, but in such a manner that the said deflector rotates in the same direction as the mould and at a speed which, although it is preferably equal to that of the rotation of the mould, `can be different and adjustable at will.

(d) In particular, in forming this deflector in two pieces movable relatively to each other, the movable vmember forming the jets constituting the projection sheet; this member is caused to rotate either by the simple reaction of How ofthe molten metal, or by a suitable driving device.

(e) In constituting the deector in the shape of a crucible movable in translation relatively to the mould, but rotating with the latter, in such a way that the metal is forced along -the walls of the said Crucible by centrifugal "force, for reaching the walls of the rotating mould on which it adheres when solidifying. v l

The accompanying drawing illustrates,'by way of example only, various forms of construction of the said improvements.

l-is a sectional elevation of a first form of construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation'of a second form of construction.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a third form of construction.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the third form of construction, showing the arrangement of the projection nozzles.

Flg. 5 is an elevation'of av fourth form of construction.

In the example shown in Fig. 1, a refractory deflector l, in one piece, is hung on the tube k.

The said deflector is provided at 2 with a funnel-shaped recess into which enters the streamy 3 of molten metal, freely falling. The lower portion of the recess 2 leads to substantially radial `nozzles 4 which have preferably a horizontal section similar to that of the vanes of a reaction turbine.

ItV will be seen that the vein of molten metal is subdivided by the part Z, acting as a deector, in several streams which issue from each of channels 4 instead of being directly projected on the mould by a single A nozzle. The considerable diiference of this arrangement relatively to that already known, consists in that the horizontal projection of the metal on the rotating mould Vof a device such as a ball bearing for instance, permitting the free rotation of this deflector relatively to the tube 7c. In this example, the deiector Z plays the part of a reaction turbine, that is to say the flow of the molten metal through the channels 4 similar to vanes, ensures the rotation of this deflector. It is advantageous that the vanes or channels 4 should be arranged and devised in such a way that the rotation of this del-lector takes place in the same direction as the rotation of the cylindrical mould.

In the example of Fig. 3, the deflector is also arranged in such a manner that it can rotate relatively to the tube In'. But the rotation of this deflector is controlled by a special motor 5 acting on a shaft 6 on which the deflector is rigidly secured. It is obvious 'that the motor 5 is different from the movable motor which ensures the rotation of the cylindrical mould.

In the example of F ig; 5, the rotating mould is illustrated at 11; this mould is caused to rotate by the motor 12.

lVithin the mould 11 is arranged the deflector 13 which is provided with a central cavity 14 and is so arranged as to rotate with the mould 11, for instance under the simple action of the friction between the deflector 13 and the mould 11. The deflector 13 is y movable in axial translation by any mechanical means and," for instance, by a double acting cylinder 15.

The vein 16 of molten metal falls to the bottom of the cavity 14 of the deflector 13. The molten metal is caused tov rotate by the said deflector 13 and the centrifugal force pushes the metal on the lips of this deflector until it reaches the wall of the mould 11, under the shape of a sheet. The metal then settles on the walls of the mould 11, where it solidifies.

In this way, the projection of themetal against the walls of the cylindrical rotating mould takes place in the form of a sheet,

. instead of a jet or of a series of jets. Moreover, it comes against the wall of the mould with the same angular speed as the latter,

which is very favourable for obtaining the result sought for. Finally, the rotating mould can be fixed in translation, the delector being on the contrary movable in translation, while, inthe known processes, the rotating mould is usually movable in axial translation.

It is to be understood that there would be no departing from the scope of the present invention by maintaining the deflector fixed in translation, and by axially displacing the rotating mould.

The forms of construction described are obviously capable of receiving numerous modifications, particularly concerning the shape given to the deflector, the means for producing its displacement or v.that of the mould, and even the shape of this mould; in fact, it is possible by this process to obtain tubes of any cross section: circular,

elliptical, oval, or even polygonal, according to circumstances.

It is obvious that such modifications remain within the scope of the invention.

What Iclaim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of tubular bodies, a dellector positioned to intercept an exposed descending stream of 'of tubular bodies, a dellector positioned to intercept an exposed descending stream of solidifiable fluid, saidvdelleetor being cupped and open at its upper end to receive the fluid and being otherwise closed and being internally flared to peripherally deliver the fluid, and a vertical tubular mould surrounding and co-axial with said delleetor, said mould and deflector being adapted for relative movement in the direction of their axis and at least one thereof being rotatable.

3. In an apparatus for the manufacture of tubular bodies, a vertical tubular mould along whose axis an exposed stream of solidifiable fluid descends, means for rotating said mould upon said axis, a plunger eX- tending into said mould through the lower end thereof, and a head on the upper end of said plunger contacting with the mould wall, said head being cupped and open at its upper end to receive the. exposed descending fluid, being otherwise closed, and being internally flared to peripherally deliver said fluid against the mould wall.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT PORTEVIN.

`solidifiable fluid, said deflector being cupped v 

